Cost of Living Comparison Between Boden and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Boden and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,773 per month in Boden vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,792 per month in Boden vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,810 per month in Boden vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Boden costs about 44% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Boden sits 30% above the global median, while Phuket is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boden
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.17SEK 189
$4.41฿147
334.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.9SEK 778
$32.26฿1,077
144.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.08SEK 99.3
$8.93฿298
12.88%
Cappuccino
$4.62SEK 45.50
$2.90฿96.6
59.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68SEK 16.51
$0.88฿29.38
90.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19SEK 21.59
$0.48฿16.06
356.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.03SEK 69.3
$2.35฿78.5
199.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.85SEK 67.5
$3.72฿124
84.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Boden
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56SEK 15.33
$1.87฿62.3
-16.58%
White Bread(500g)
$3.13SEK 30.80
$1.47฿48.94
112.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.85SEK 37.97
$1.55฿51.8
148.39%
Eggs
$4.50SEK 44.36
$2.10฿70.1
114.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.54SEK 124
$19.59฿654
-35.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.03SEK 119
$3.42฿114
251.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.65SEK 174
$11.38฿380
55.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.11SEK 30.62
$2.98฿99.6
4.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.67SEK 26.30
$1.68฿56.2
58.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.18SEK 31.35
$2.21฿73.7
43.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.08SEK 40.24
$2.16฿72.1
88.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56SEK 15.41
$1.52฿50.9
2.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.67SEK 16.48
$1.34฿44.67
24.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.29SEK 22.55
$1.13฿37.67
102.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50SEK 14.81
$0.55฿18.24
172.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.45SEK 103
$4.26฿142
145.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.10SEK 99.5
$19.09฿637
-47.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00SEK 19.75
$1.78฿59.4
12.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33SEK 22.97
$2.78฿92.9
-16.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Boden
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.34SEK 32.87
$2.23฿74.4
49.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$84.3SEK 830
$22.74฿759
270.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.12SEK 60.3
$3.03฿101
101.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75SEK 17.24
$1.02฿34.15
71.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$53.9SEK 531
$3.89฿130
1284.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07SEK 20.40
$1.49฿49.77
38.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5KSEK 251.3K
$26.6K฿887.3K
-4.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2KSEK 336.7K
$27.0K฿902.2K
26.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boden
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107SEK 1,059
$102฿3,420
4.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.50SEK 261
$11.33฿378
133.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.45SEK 389
$17.40฿581
126.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Boden
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.1SEK 583
$52.1฿1,738
13.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.32SEK 200
$11.07฿370
83.56%
Cinema Ticket
$12.66SEK 125
$7.69฿257
64.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boden
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$160SEK 1,578
$561฿18.7K
-71.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,231SEK 51.6K
$11.5K฿384.1K
-54.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Boden
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.5SEK 902
$63.0฿2,104
45.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12SEK 415
$29.52฿986
42.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7SEK 943
$98.0฿3,272
-2.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140SEK 1,378
$88.5฿2,954
57.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boden
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$918SEK 9,045
$738฿24.6K
24.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$603SEK 5,940
$482฿16.1K
24.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,392SEK 13.7K
$2,107฿70.3K
-33.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,033SEK 10.2K
$1,226฿40.9K
-15.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,383SEK 43.2K
$3,617฿120.7K
21.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,192SEK 31.5K
$2,603฿86.9K
22.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Boden
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,949SEK 38.9K
$494฿16.5K
700.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.4
5.57
-38.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Boden: September 12, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $918 in Boden versus $738 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 700% higher in Boden, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Boden versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $366 vs $274 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Boden vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Boden?
Yes – Boden is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,660 per month in Boden and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Boden and in Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,773 in Boden and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 271% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Boden or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Boden at $1,773. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boden it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Boden or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Boden or Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boden makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.